Harness-saddle



(No Model.) 2A Sheets-Sheet 2. J. MEALBY. HARNESS SADDLE.V

Patented Feb. 2,311897.

5.. m w /z ,044 wm da E l n L @Lmf/ I We@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHNSTON MEALEY, OF I-IOVARD LAKE, MINNESOTA.

HARNESS-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 576,213, dated February 2, 189'?.

Application led February 10, 1896. Serial No, 578,651. (No model.) d

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHNSTON MEALEY, of Iloward Lake, Vright county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in IIarness-Saddles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesV to harness-saddles;

. and the object I have in view is to provide a saddle having no hooks or the reins or a blanket.

A further object is to provide a saddle which will lit the back of any horse and which has no sewed parts to rip.

A further Objectis to provide a saddle which can be readily taken in pieces and a worn part removed; and a still further object is to provide a neat and attractive saddle in appearance and one which can be manufactured at a comparatively small cost.

My invention Consists generally in providing a saddletree having hinged sides, whereby the same is rendered adjustable, in combination with straps which pass over the tree and means for securing the straps in position on the tree, and, further, my invention consists in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, Figure 1 is a plan view of a saddle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an. edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of the tree with the straps removed. Fig. 4 is a sectionalview of the saddle. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the saddletree, showing the pivoted parts. Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a modified means for securing the checkrein to the saddle.

In the drawings, 2represents the main portion of the saddletree, made of any suitable material, preferably cast metal, and semicircular in form. At its highest point it is provided with across-bar 3, having the standards 4, supporting the pin 5, carrying the roller 6. Beneath the `roller 6 I provide the hook 7, which engages a hole in the checkrein and holds the same securely in position.

Upon either side of the cross-bar 3 I provide the bars 8 and 9, connecting the opposite sides of the part 2, the bars 8 connecting the inner edges of the part 2, and the bars 9 the outer, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

proj eetions to catch 'Io the ends of the part 2 are hinged the parts 10- and 11 by rivets or in any suitable way, preferably by recessin g and overlapping the ends, as shown in Fig. 3. The parts 10 and 11 are provided with the bars 12, 13, and 14, connecting the opposite sides thereof, the bars 12 and 14 connecting the inner and the bars 13 the outer edges of the parts 10 and 1l. Each part is provided with the outwardlyextending loop portions 15 and 16, connected by the bars 17, as shown in Fig. 1. These loop portions form supports for the reins, and havingrounded surfaces and no sharp corners will not catch on a blanket or any part of the harness that may come in contact with them. The bars 8, 12, and 14 are provided with hooks 18 near the middle portion thereof and projecting laterally therefrom.

To prevent galling the back of the horse, I provide a thick felt portion 19, fitted to the inside of the tree and provided upon its outer surface with a narrow leather strip which is adapted to be hooked around the hooks 18 and thereby held securely in position. The felt may be taken out at any time and the saddle used without it, if desired.

The bars 9, 12, and 13 are provided with inwardly-projecting lugs or pins 20, 21, and 22, adapted to enter holes in the straps and prevent the same from slipping.

I provide the usual straps 23 and 24, one of which supports the shafts and the other is connected to the girth, which passes under the horse and holds the saddle in position. In the ordinary saddle these straps are connected to short straps, which are sewed or otherwise fastened to the sides of the saddletree. These short straps are constantly tearing out where they are sewed to the saddle, and to obviate this difficulty I extend the straps 23 and 24 entirely over the top of the tree between the bars arranged upon the innerand outer surface of the tree, the space between the bars being of suflicient size to admit the straps by bending them in and out in passing over the hars, as shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified means for securing the cheekrein, which consists in a screw 25, having a flattened head upon which the under surface of the checkrein rests. The shank of this screw extends down through the two straps and the cross-bar 3 and is provided IOO with a threaded lower end io receive the bur or nut 26. In place of the roller arranged above the rein I may provide the cam 27, pivotally supported by the standards I and provided on one side with a lug or projection 2S, by means of which the cam may be thrown into or-removed from engagement with the surface of the rein.

The saddletree is preferably made from cast-brass and may be finished and ornamented in any desired manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination with the metallic saddletree, comprising the main or iixed portion, and the side portions hinged thereto, the straps passing over the tree and removably secured thereto, and the loops provided on the sides of the tree, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination, with the curved tree provided with the cross-bars connecting the opposite sides thereof, of the straps passing over said tree and between said bars, and the pins or lugs provided on said bars for entering holes provided in said straps, substantially as described.

The combination with the metallic saddletree, comprising a fixed portion, the movable portions hinged thereto, the cross-bars connecting the opposite sides of said tree upon its inner and outer surface whereby a space is provided between two sets of bars, the straps adapted to pass over said tree between said bars, and the pins or lugs provided on said bars for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with the metallic saddletree, of the straps passing over the same and secured thereto, the cross-bars connecting the opposite sides of the tree, the hooks provided on said bars, the felt portion provided beneath the tree, and said felt portion being provided on its outer surface With a band of flexible material to be looped over said hooks, for the purpose set forth.

5. A harness-saddle comprising a metallic tree having movable sides, the rein-loops arranged thereon, the hook arranged upon the top of the tree, the roller above the same, the crossbars connecting the opposite sides of the tree and alternately arranged upon its inner and outer surface whereby a space is provided between the opposite bars, the straps adapted to pass over the tree between the bars, the inwardly-projecting pins or lugs provided on said bars to enter holes in said straps, the laterally-extending hooks on said bars, the flexible material provided beneath said tree, and the band provided upon the outer surface of said flexible material for securing the same to said hooks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of December, A. D. l 895.

JOHNSTON MEALEY.

In presence of- C. G. HAWLEY, M. E. GooLnv. 

